Woflsburg 0-0 Hertha
There were no goals for Wolves fans to celebrate on Sunday evening, as the team drew 0-0 at home to Hertha in the opening Bundesliga game of the new season, in front of 23,496 in the VOLKSWAGENARENA. Although both sides had their chances, a goal simply refused to fall. Argentinean striker Diego Klimowicz missed two sitters for the home side, while second half Hertha substitute Gimenez went close with a brace of headers.
New faces
The Wolves coach Klaus Augenthaler played two new signings (Möhrle and Madlung) in defence, and Santana and Krzynowek in midfield. Hertha coach Falko Götz left new signing Gimenez on the bench at first, opting to start the game with his new Croatian striker Lakic instead.
Chances for both sides
After 8 scrappy opening minutes, Mike Hanke fired an initial warning shot by way of a free kick which was easily dealt with by the Hertha keeper Fiedler. The capital city side started to create chances, the best of which were wasted by Lakic (15.) and Gilberto (18.). The former Hertha defender Alex Madlung had a good game on his debut, but headed well wide on 16 minutes as he rose above everyone else. Six minutes later, Klimowicz and Möhrle combined well but the defender who joined Wolfsburg from Duisburg during the close season narrowly missed the target.
Makiadi almost makes the difference
The home side began to gather momentum and Klimowicz was in the spotlight again after 30 minutes. Hertha hearts were in their mouths as Malik Fathi lost the ball to Makiadi while trying to dribble inside his own penalty area. Makiadi passed to Klimowicz standing alone some five metres out. The big striker got under the ball and blasted over the crossbar. Three minutes later, Fiedler punches away another Hanke free kick. Not much happened before the break aside from a Gilberto free kick on the stroke of half time. Both teams could hardly string two passes together and the game was goalless at the break.
Klimo misses another sitter
Both sides emerged unchanged for the second half, which began with another fierce shot being saved by Fiedler on 49 minutes. Hertha failed to get the final pass to their front two who were mainly left hung out to dry. On 66 minutes, superb approach work by Hanke resulted in Klimowicz with the goal at his mercy. Once again the Argentinean failed to hit an open goal while standing alone on the penalty spot.
Gimenez impressive
Hertha seemed happy enough with a point and stood solid in defence, while mounting some late counter attacks. Late second half substitute Giménez showed his heading prowess as he forced the home keeper Jentzsch into a couple of reflex saves. Nine minutes from time, new signing Santana could have scored on his debut for the Wolves.
WOLFSBURG: Jentzsch; Möhrle, Madlung, Hofland, Van der Heyden; van der Leegte; Santana; Makiadi, Krzynowek; Hanke, Klimowicz.
HERTHA: Fiedler; Chahed, A. Friedrich, van Burik, Fathi; Dardai; Cairo, Bastürk, Gilberto; Pantelic, Lakic.
BUNDESLIGA
Pos. Team Pld Pts
1. Nürnberg 1 3
2. Leverkusen 1 3
3. Werder Bremen 1 3
4. Monchengladbach 1 3
5. Bayern 1 3
...
11. Wolfsburg 1 1
Source: vfl-wolfsburg.de
